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Montclair council approves first reading to allow outpatient medical offices in North Montclair station district
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to approve first reading of Ordinance No. 25-1015, amending the North Montclair Downtown Specific Plan to permit outpatient medical/doctor office uses (excluding hospitals) in the station-district land-use zone, a change requested by Village Partners Ventures LLC to allow dental/medical tenants in the Village At Montclair project.
The Montclair City Council on a unanimous voice roll call approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 25-1015, a staff-backed amendment to the North Montclair Downtown Specific Plan that would permit outpatient medical and doctor-office uses in the station-district land-use zone.
Planning division staff told the council the change was requested by Village Partners Ventures LLC, the developer of the Village At Montclair, to allow two to three of the project's 10 permanent ground-floor commercial units to be leased to medical or dental offices. Staff said the revision adjusts the specific-plan land-use table (table 5-2) and updates definitions so the change allows outpatient medical offices but does not permit hospitals; some clinic uses would still require a conditional-use permit.
"This is a modest, straightforward amendment," a planning division staffer said, summarizing the finding that the revision corrects an omission and would permit services typical for neighborhoods such as dental offices, optometrists or audiologists. Staff noted the planning commission recommended the amendment (planning commission resolution No. 25-2010) and the environmental review found no significant impacts.
Council members asked whether waste-disposal or safety concerns explained the prior prohibition; staff said there was no special disposal reason and that regulated medical waste is handled by qualified haulers when required. Council Member Lopez pressed staff on the scale of future demand and how many residents the district will support; staff said the Village Partners site includes about 360 planned units and estimated that permitting two to three medical leases would leave at least seven retail spaces available for other services.
The applicant paid for the environmental evaluation, which staff said cost about $15,000. Planning staff recommended the council adopt the ordinance for first reading and schedule a second-reading public hearing on Oct. 20, 2025.
Mayor Dutre moved to approve the ordinance's first reading and waive further reading; Council Member Rue seconded. The council then took a voice roll call: Council Member Mendez, Council Member Lopez, Council Member Rue, Mayor Pro Tem Martinez and Mayor Dutre all voted in favor.
Because the council approved only the first reading, the ordinance will return for a required second reading and a formal adoption vote at a future meeting. If adopted, the amendment would allow limited outpatient medical uses within the station district while preserving the need for conditional-use review for higher-intensity medical facilities.
